MAN Energy Solutions has announced that its portfolio of two-stroke, dual-fuel engines has accumulated more than two million operating hours in total, running on LNG, methanol, ethane and LPG. The news comes on the back of the 470 engines the company has received orders for – with over 185 already in service – and all running on the aforementioned alternative fuels.

Bjarne Foldager, Senior Vice President and Head of Low-Speed, MAN Energy Solutions, said: “This significant milestone owes everything to us providing the solutions demanded by the market and stands as testament to our leadership in this vital, marine segment. Our strategy offers a clear path to decarbonisation and it is evident that the increasing adoption of dual-fuel technology has become an irreversible trend.”

MAN Energy Solutions’ dual-fuel journey began in 2011 with a full-scale test of an ME-GI (-Gas Injection) engine at its Research Centre Copenhagen, followed by the first delivery in 2014. The first engine tests of the ME-LGI (-Liquid Gas Injection) platform began in 2015, followed by the first sea-trial for the ME-LGIM (methanol) engine in 2016. Development of an ethane (ME-LGIE) unit followed in 2016 with sea-trials already in 2017. Currently, 12 ME-LGIP (propane) vessels are in service, while an MAN-B&W ammonia-fueled engine is due to enter the market by 2024.

Peter Quaade, Head of Dual Fuel Engine Group – Two-Stroke Operations – MAN Energy Solutions, said: “New technologies bring design and service-related challenges, which – in the case of our dual-fuel portfolio – we have carefully identified and resolved throughout the last decade. As a result, this is reliable, mature technology that has achieved exceptionally high running-times of more than 95% on alternative fuels, pointing to the high reliability of dual-fuel operation. Furthermore, their seamless switching between fuels, elimination of fuel-slip, and use of the Diesel combustion principle ensure that these engines can easily adapt to run on whatever fuels the industry may prefer in the future.”

Irreversible trend

In respect to decarbonisation, MAN Energy Solutions notes recent reports of European politicians intending to recruit banks to help combat climate change by steering capital away from polluters. Under this scenario, banks would have to inform the ECB (European Central Bank) how their portfolios might evolve in the long-term with the ECB already having made clear that it will gradually start to treat climate as it would any other risk.

Similarly, the Global Maritime Forum is currently drafting an equivalent of its Poseidon Principles scheme for marine insurers based on a system measuring alignment with IMO decarbonisation targets. This would focus on the safe and sustainable use of new marine fuels and feature a lifecycle assessment approach to greenhouse gas emissions.